|
Stranded |
  A
puff of steam or smoke came out from under the hood of my car as I was
speeding along the freeway. The heater had quit and the four children and
I were cold. We had just hurried away from the store heading home, happy
for being able to get a little Christmas gift for the name we each
drew. My oldest son was so thankful for his new jacket. Having grown 9
inches since last winter, he was also broader in the shoulders. His old
coat just didn't fit. The puff of steam
was followed by unusual distress sounds in the engine. I had a growing
concern in my mother heart for I had not made sure each child had hats and
gloves and boots for it was just a "quick" trip into Spokane.
Oh, how thankful I was for having gotten the new coat for my son. He
really needed it right away. |
| My son strongly advised I take the next possible exit. I
did not know what we would find. We
put on the emergency flashers as we noticed the speed of the car was
diminishing. We had a half mile to the exit. We all were silently praying
for God to help us. Since the gas tank was on empty, I chose to head over
to the first gas station. While waiting for the light to change so I could
cross the intersection, a loud horn caught our attention. A gentleman
called out that our car was pouring out liquid. It seemed the light would
never change. Smoke or steam was billowing about our car in the very cold
weather. Ice was everywhere. This was the last thing I needed. My husband
was 156 miles away working.
Finally the light changed and I slowly edged the car into the gas station while my son protested that I might blow the whole place up if it was an electrical problem and we were on fire. |
 I
shut off the engine and he raced around pulled the hood up, and saw the antifreeze
from the cooling system pouring out.
Right across from the station was an auto parts store. Inside the gas station was warmth and food, restrooms, and a phone. I was able to call and talk to my cousin Clyde Sample in Spangle. He said it would be no problem for he was about to come into Spokane to get something he needed anyway. He was there in 45 minutes fully equipped with tools, water, granola bars and provided a warm car for the children to sit in. The children kept mentioning how kind and thoughtful he was to them. They all said how much they love him for what he did to help us. |
 He found a hole in the lower radiator hose, took it off, went across
the street just before Shucks auto closed, bought the replacement hose,
and antifreeze and returned. After he had things back on, the car worked
perfectly. He followed us a ways on the freeway just to make sure. |
| The kind lady at the Holiday Gas station offered us free cookies. It was so thoughtful of her. God blessed us through her kindness. |
| God used my cousin Clyde's hands to fix my car when I was so desperate for help. It was a fabulous hug and an answer to prayer greater than we expected. Also God kept my '85' AMC EAGLE jeep running until I could take that next exit. At that exit were all the parts, and fuel my car needed. Also food and warmth for 3 hours of waiting in the cold. The wind was blowing about 4-5 mph and the temperature was 28F. |
After all was fixed up, a little starting fluid on the carburetor,
and it started up and ran fine. My
children said what happened seemed like the promise in Isaiah. Since we
were driving an Eagle, and its strength was renewed, they thought it fit
perfectly.
Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew [their] strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; [and] they shall walk, and not faint. |
| To see another story about this same car and it's journey into Mexico go to the story called "healed car". That story happened in 1999. I am happy to tell you the car still is healed of that problem. It is still running with 218,900 miles on it as I write this story. (Dec. 24, 2001) |